Publication Laka-library:
Vol II, Part 11: Lawrence Berkeley Working Gr. Assessment (1994)
| Author | Plutonium Working Gr US DoE |
| Date | September 1994 |
| Classification | 3.01.5.30/18 (UNITED STATES - GENERAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS PLANTS + CLEAN UP) |
| Front | 
|
From the publication:
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Executive Summary On March 15, 1994, the Secretary of Energy, Hazel R. O'Leary, formed a Department of Energy-wide Plutonium Vulnerability Working Group to assess the environment, safety and health (ES&H) vulnerabilities arising from the Department's storage and handling of its current plutonium holdings. On May 24, 1994, six members from the eleven member Working Group Assessment Team (WGAT) visited Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL). Based on a preliminary vulnerability report written by the LBL staff, the LBL possesses 325 grams of plutonium, most of which is in sealed sources. Except for small quantities (micro curie amounts) in alpha-check sources, the plutonium is contained in three facilities, the Calibration Facility (Building 75C), Vault Storage (Building 70), and the Research Laboratories (Building 70A). The assessment team confirmed the vulnerability identified by LBL that air filter systems for glove boxes in Building 70A may fail causing release of radioactivity to the laboratory or environment. In addition, the assessment team recognized the accumulation of combustible materials in these facilities to be a vulnerability. Also, the assessment team recognized that old and outmoded portable radiation monitors in the laboratories had inadequate sensitivity to low energy beta radiation. The team concluded that this was a vulnerability that could lead to inadequate control of contamination, including contamination of workers if plutonium-241 were used at LBL. The assessment team found strong programs in radiological protection that exhibited significant reduction in radiation dose to workers in the last year. Additionally, based on environmental monitoring data, the team found no evidence of sources of radioactivity released to the air or water. The team reviewed an emergency response program that was strongly integrated to community police, fire protection, and hospital organizations. The LBL staff demonstrated an understanding and competence in handling radioactive materials. The department will use the results obtained at LBL with results from other sites to develop an integrated description of the national holdings of plutonium and the associated vulnerabilities in environment, safety and health.
This publication is only available at Laka on paper, not as pdf.
You can borrow the publication or request a copy. When we're available, this is possible for a small fee.